Wanting a good run this afternoon but not sure what to make of a strange day (alternating sunshine and heavy showers), I settled on a fine-looking scenic route to Luibeilt over the isolated Corbett of Glas Bheinn (which I’m afraid to say I’d only been up once long before my serious running days) and back by the track. And how inexplicably I’ve neglected Glas Bheinn when its otherwise undistinguished profile makes for gloriously carefree hill running, with gentle gradients and accommodating surfaces combining to keep the ascent, continuation north-east over Carn Dearg and descent from Ceann Caol na Glas-bheinne all very, very runnable. So the final approach to Luibeilt might be as soggy as anyone who knows this area would expect, but it’s still an absolute peach of a run and one that I’m sure to be doing again!
It’s also been another good week, with 50 miles of running and 30 of mountain biking (all proper off-road stuff demanding some serious effort) so far making a very satisfactory follow-up to last week’s 90 running miles with a day still to go (fancy the bike again tomorrow if it’s nice). Not going to pretend I’m never tired or haven’t been falling asleep at some odd times (which I’m quite capable of anyway!) but, once I get out there and (usually) through the first big climb, I’m still generally feeling strong and able to push myself quite hard. :-)
Some quality running you’ve been getting in Pete. I was working in Ft William and ran out from Glen Nevis to Meanach Bothy and back on wednesday evening so i know exactly what you mean about boggy and wet!
Comment by RichieC — 17 April 2010 @ 10:49 pm
Now that part of upper Glen Nevis really is wet, Richie! So you probably got it about as ‘dry’ as you’re ever likely to this week, and need to try it when it’s really soggy (like my September 2007 run through from the Lower Falls to Kinloch)… but, sure, there’s basically perma-wet ground up there and even the track south of Luibeilt fords *deep* puddles I’ve never seen dry (still usually better taken direct than trying to avoid via the surrounding ground). Speaking of which, the Abhainn Rath crossing looked OK yesterday when it can be quite lethal and a potentially impossible obstacle on the signposted right of way from Kinloch to Spean.
Re. ‘quality running’, yes, I’m happy with what I’ve been doing (especially since it’s mostly been evenings this week with school term already under way here), but think I’m depending on whatever I’ve got from habitually running this kind of stuff to compete with others targeting sub-20 WHW since I’d be surprised if I’m not giving away flat speed to everyone at that level!
Comment by admin — 18 April 2010 @ 9:26 am